We are 10 points clear even without the gers deduction, so they don’t deserve any real significant exposure so my focus is on our Bhoys in particularly today.
We are sat comfortably in number 1, pole position this is not by default either. 10 points clear without the deduction speaks echelons in footballing terms.
Success does breathe life into anybody and it is this success that is making us contenders for a few names especially goalkeepers.
We have again been linked to young Spanish hotshot keeper Raul Fernandez.
The Atletico Bilbao young gun is currently a number 2 at the club, but Lennon is looking for a number 1 as a back up plan should a deal for big Fraser fall through.
Alan Pardew / Mike Ashley, or whoever makes the decisions, possibly the latter. may make it difficult for us to sign Forster out and out due to the fact his performance this season has been brilliant.
20 clean sheets in a season will add value to any goalkeeper on the planet no matter what league he is in. It all depends on Newcastles situation at the end of Forsters loan spell with us.
Newcastle have Tim Krul and Ste Harper still in their ranks. Krul has been in sensational form but should the Toon look to move forward they may let Harper go which could then lead to them retaining the services of Forster.
The case is big Fraser wants first team football and he is getting it in bucket loads with us so why would he want to stay with Newcastle?
Newcastle are a big club in stature and no disrespect to them but I believe Fraser will have more success with Celtic and a wider birth into the footballing world with some European action almost promised every season. He is almost guaranteed silverware this season and that should be the epitome, the icing if you will that will bring Fraser back for more.
In terms of Lenny searching searching for goalkeepers I am not sure how realistic the claims of the press are.
According to the press: –
“Fernandez’s contract expires in the summer and Celtic are believed to be willing to offer him a three-year deal according to reports in Spain.”
This synchronously coincides with Fraser’s deal coming to an end, now the press are gullible at times to push stories that sound logical, the only logic being the dates. In this case I think the chances of this deal happening are below 15% due to the fact our focus is on retaining Fraser’s duties.
The press could have linked us with anybody who can put on a pair of goalkeeping gloves straight and still pushed the logical button as the dates make it sound suffice.
My view – Fraser is the way forwards but if not give our youth a shot towards the end of this season, give them first team game time and test them.
On another level a big congratulations to Charlie Mulgrew (enbauer). The now Celtic utility man will be a fully fledged international tonight for Scotland. He deserves it so we should all give him a round of applause for finally getting the nod after his sensational form, highlights – his thunderbolt which I have bookmarked and have watched many times. All the best to Charlie in the international scene and may he return to our ranks 100% fit.
Finally I get round to Juarez. What should Lenny do with him? Does he deserve a run in the back end of the season? He started so well and now is back with us I believe we should at least give him another chance.
I do not want him to be another failed player from the ‘Americas’ who never really did much with us. I believe a second chance is always vital especially with some players to make sure we are not making any mistakes in letting decent players slip from our hands.
Comments welcome as always Bhoys and Ghirls.
Views on our goalkeeper situation? What would you do?
Charlies international call up, should it have come sooner?
Juarez, does he deserve another shot in the team?
Juarez was the pick of the bunch for ne when he first arrived,I thought he would be sensational for us. The midfield in my opinion is the strongest department at Celtic park and after watching him at fir park at right back he isn’t a defender.. Depending on movement during the summer he would be surplus to requirements if nobody is sold,but I’d put him in toward the end of the season and if he recaptures his eRly form great and he would also be in the ship window… Big FF has been sensational since his penalty save v Farts.
That should read “me,early,and shop” fingers too big for my phone!!!
No spelling mistake for the “farts” though!!!
juarez showed in his first spell that he has real talent and i hope lennon gives him another shot in the first team,also we dont want to throw away the money we spent on him.
hh
Anybody know WHY he’s been ignored??
I’ve been “told” why…but it’s hearsay….so I won’t repeat it.
Grandmaster Flash is singing white lines on ma ipod at the moment.
Hahaha. Brilliant
I saw Juarez in a few games early on and I thought he looked great with loads of energy. I think he was unlucky that he dropped out when results weren’t going well. If he stayed a bit longer he might have got more of a chance but I don’t think his Celtic career is over. If the league is wrapped up soon I think we’ll see him, McGeough, Rabui and some more a lot more before the end of the season. Hail hail!
I know he came as a right back but I think Juarez suffered because of the form of Ki and Cha Du Ri last year. It looked pretty obvious to me the NL did not fancy Ki early on as he didnt feature unless necessary then when Kayal and Brown got injured Ki got a run in the Team and by Christmas was a first pick and we were dreading him and Cha going away to the Asian Cup. Juarez never really figured much after that even at full back.
But we need to remember we paid circa £4m for him on the back of the World Cup so if we want to see any return on that he needs some exposure and if we cant do that witha 20 point lead then when can we. I dont want to potentially lose games just to give players a run but once the league is home and hosed then he should be given a run out to see if he came back the player we thought we bought.
I thought Juarez was the new Petrov when he arrived, especially after the first couple of games, but it all seemed to go pear shaped the night we crashed in Utrecht.
I think that if we are to re-coup any money on him them he must be put in the window. When the league is won I can see him getting another run of three or four games. Then it is down to him to prove whether he wishes to stay and play or go.
Regardless the club need to get the dead wood out the door in the summer; O’Dea, Rasmussen, Murphy, McCourt, Juarez, Thompson, McGinn, Loovens. I think all of these guys need to go to get first team football. It will cut our wage bill and also bring in much needed funds.
The next few years could bring financial constraints and we need to start to plan for this.
I’d say give Juarez a chance too. At least keep the other guys on their toes and give them a bit of healthy competition. Lets them know that they can’t get too comfortable in their roles and start taking their feet off the pedal. Everyone deserves a second chance. After all, Sammy was given chance after chance and it took a long time for him to repay the manager’s faith. Also I agree with Brian re: getting a return for our money. As for Fraser Forster, I know what I’d do in his shoes, but that’s not to say he will be of the same mind. As you say he’s going to get silverware at the end of this season, barring a sensational failure on our part, and a crack at European football. Depends on the type of person he is really.
Big well done to Charlie Mulgrew for getting into the Scotland squad and from early tweets I’m seeing, James Forrest is playing a great game. Great news.
I would like to give Juarez another chance. He looked good and then seemed to be really aimless in his play. I still think he has good potential but if he isn’t given a chance I would honest trust the management’s decision. After another 2 or 3 wins I would like to see players like Juarez, McCourt, Bangura and a couple of the younger players being phased in for a run in the team.(Except in the cup games!)
I thought you were meaning this Fernandez when I read the headline!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Fernández
So did I ;D we have been linked to the bilbao youngster before.
If we need a goalie because we can’t sign big FF, I hear that a local guy may soon be available on a reasonable deal, as he may shortly be declared redundant…..Or would that be considered to be rubbing salt in the wound?…. 😎
I’d give “two fingers” to any thoughts of a Mc Gregor deal. Shouldn’t have been back in the Scotland squad.